Vision and cognition testing and/or training under stress conditions

Abstract

The visual and cognitive skills of a subject may be tested and/or trained by providing a visual stimulus to a subject. More particularly, a subject may be tested and/or trained when under a stress condition to determine the effect of a stress condition, such as a physical stress or a cognitive stress, on the subject's visual and sensory skills. A response may be received from a subject via an input device, the appropriateness of which may depend upon the stimulus provided to the subject. Behavioral information and other data regarding the performance of a subject and the possible effect of the stress condition may be recorded. Scoring may be based upon the speed, accuracy, and other aspects of the performance of a subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for improving athletic performance of a test subject, the system comprising:
 a first apparatus, comprising:
 a test unit, 
 at least one display device, and 
 at least one monitor for monitoring at least one of eye movement and head movement of the test subject; and 
 
 a second apparatus comprising a stress-inducing device configured to provide a stress to the test subject,
 wherein the first apparatus is configured to provide a test to the test subject by: 
 displaying a visual stimulus to the test subject on the at least one display device; 
 determining a correct response to the visual stimulus; 
 receiving a response from the test subject; 
 capturing at least one of head movement and eye movement of the test subject using the at least one monitor; 
 determining if the response is the correct response; and 
 calculating a score based on the response being correct or incorrect and a degree of head or eye movement of the test subject captured by the at least one monitor, 
 
 wherein the system is configured so the first apparatus can provide the test to the test subject at the same time as the second apparatus provides the stress to the test subject. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the test unit is communicatively coupled to the at least one display device and the at least one monitor. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an input device communicatively coupled to the test unit and configured to receive an input from the test subject as the response. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one display device and the input device are the same. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stress-inducing device is a device for one of running, cycling, and elliptical training. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stress-inducing device is a speaker and the stress is a sound emitted from the speaker.